Asia-Pacific

FMs agree to boost nuclear safety cooperation

(China Daily)
Updated: 2011-03-21 08:23

BEIJING - The foreign ministers of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea(ROK) on Saturday agreed to boost cooperation on nuclear power safety and disaster preparedness, a week after Japan's magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami, which has left over 20,000 dead or missing.

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Prior to the meeting in Kyoto, officials from three countries stood in silent tribute to the victims of the disaster.

Newly appointed Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto briefed his Chinese and ROK counterparts Yang Jiechi and Kim Sung-hwan on how Tokyo is handling the aftermath of the disaster as well as the ongoing efforts to avoid the radiation leaking at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Matsumoto also expressed gratitude for the dispatch of relief teams and supplies by China and the ROK. He emphasized that although the disaster has had a short-term effect on Japan's economy, its foundations have not been shaken.

Both the Chinese and ROK foreign ministers offered condolences to Japan, saying that they are willing to extend maximum support to the nation in relief operations and reconstruction work.

Disaster management and the safety of nuclear power were high on the agenda at the meeting.

The three ministers agreed to enhance trilateral cooperation to better respond to major disasters and ensure the safety of nuclear power.

The trio also exchanged views on the situation in the Korean Peninsula and started to lay the groundwork for the Fourth China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit Meeting, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Foreign Minister Yang said during the meeting that China-Japan-ROK cooperation is an important part of East Asian cooperation, and promoting friendly relations among the three is in line with the common interests of the three countries.

He said in separate talks with Matsumoto that China hopes to work together with Japan to promote strategic and mutually beneficial bilateral relations between China and Japan.

Matsumoto said he hoped Tokyo and Beijing could move forward to promote high-level exchanges and cooperation in different areas in order to commemorate the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations next year.

On the same day, Yang also met ROK Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Kim Sung-hwan.

They expressed their willingness to support Japan's relief work and promoting China-ROK bilateral relations and cooperation in international and regional issues.

Xinhua-China Daily-AFP